Page 9 of Christopher

How many people could relate to a man dumped by his mate on the sidewalk without one word of explanation?

He stared at his phone. He hadn’t told anyone about Chris yet, and part of him wanted to keep all of it a secret. If he didn’t tell his friends, he wouldn’t have to admit that Chris had run away from him. He wouldn’t have to tell them how horrible it must have been for Chris to realize that they were mates. It was clear he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life with Drake, which Drake supposed was fine. It wasn’t like he could force anyone to be with him, let alone his mate.

It wasn’t fine. It was so painful that it broke his heart. There was only one explanation for Chris running, and it was that he didn’t want Drake. Clearly, Chris hadn’t had the courage to tell him face-to-face, so instead, he’d left him behind.

And that left Drake picking through the shards of what remained of his heart, trying to find a new reason to live.

He took another sip of coffee and admitted that he was being dramatic. It wasn’t like he was dying or anything. It might feel like that for a bit, but Drake had had boyfriends before Chris, and if Chris rejected him, he’d have boyfriends after him, too.

He just didn’t want to.

He hesitated. He wasn’t sure he wanted to tell anyone about the rejection, but he had friends, and they’d be happy to find out he’d met his mate—before turning angry and threatening Chris when Drake told them he’d run. A few of them would probably offer to go get him and drag him back, which Drake would be tempted to accept if he knew where to find him.

He shook his head and unlocked his phone. He had a group text with Dennis, Taylor, and Jacob. He pulled that up, then hesitated, trying to think of what to write.

I didn’t tell you what happened yesterday, he typed and sent.

Jacob’s three dots started dancing on the screen. Drake waited for his answer to come through, rolling his eyes when it did.A squirrel stole your donut?

Drake’s fingers flew on the screen.That happenedonetime. There’s no need for you to bring it up every time we text.

What would be the fun in that?Jacob answered.

And where would be the fun of not telling you that I met my mate?There. Drake might as well come clean and tell his friends everything.

More dots started dancing on the screen. Jacob wasn’t the only one answering, and Drake leaned back, waiting. He already knew his friends would have something to say, which was fine because it was why he was reaching out to them. He needed advice.

Of the four of them, only Dennis had a mate, and the relationship was recent. He might not be able to tell Drake much, but maybe Drake would be lucky. Maybe it was a way for him to locate his mate when they weren’t bonded yet.

Congratulations!Taylor texted. Jacob texted the same seconds later.

What he said, Dennis texted.When were you going to tell us?

Gosh, Drake wanted to hug the three of them. He would if they were here, but it felt easier to tell them this through texts. Usually Drake preferred texts, maybe emails, but right now, he wished he had his friends here so he could hug them.

It only happened yesterday, and I’m still confused, Drake admitted.

Finding your mate will do that to you.

It’s not fair,Jacob complained.

You’ll find your mate, too, eventually, Drake told him.But I’m really confused, and I don’t know anything about him, and I don’t know how to find him.

Where are you?Dennis asked.

Coffee shop. I still have about ten minutes before I have to go back to work.

Dennis didn’t answer. In fact, none of the three texted again, leaving Drake to stare at his phone, hoping they would. He’d just told them he’d met his mate. Surely they were happy for him? They might even throw him a tiny party of four—or five if Drake ever managed to find Chris.

The coffee shop door opened, and like every time it had today, Drake looked up, hoping it was Chris. It wasn’t, but it was the next best thing.

Jacob and Dennis made a beeline for him. Dennis bumped his shoulder against Jacob’s, tilting his chin toward the counter. Drake could almost hear the whine coming from Jacob, but Jacob didn’t argue and went up to the counter to order coffee while Dennis dropped into the chair in front of Drake.

“You met your mate,” he said.

Drake nodded. “And promptly lost him. He just—left, and I don’t even have his number. I don’t know how to find him.”

Dennis reached over the table and squeezed Drake’s hand. “I don’t want you to worry about any of this. Green Hill is a small town, so as long as he lives here, we’ll find him. You just have to tell us everything you know about him.”

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